Dove hunters ready for early start

Wednesday

Aug 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM

The most anticipated upland game bird hunting season in California opens Sunday when the first half of the mourning dove shoot gets underway and runs through Sept. 15. Approximately 87,000 shotgun enthusiasts are expected to go afield.

Peter Ottesen

The most anticipated upland game bird hunting season in California opens Sunday when the first half of the mourning dove shoot gets underway and runs through Sept. 15. Approximately 87,000 shotgun enthusiasts are expected to go afield.

"There is greater participation among hunters who seek doves than for any other upland species," said Scott Gardner, upland game bird coordinator for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. "It's the first shotgun hunting season of the autumn and people experience a high success rate. They usually harvest some."

The daily bag is 10 doves per day. The possession limit is triple the daily bag after the first two days of the season. The second half of the season runs Nov. 9 through Dec. 23.

San Joaquin County residents, especially those near the outskirts of towns or in rural areas, should expect plenty of gunfire when the season opens at 6:05 a.m. Sunday, a half-hour before sunrise.

"The dove hunting tradition is extremely strong," Gardner said. "People plan trips around the season, perhaps to the desert or Sierra foothills. Many enjoy an after-hunt barbecue with neighbors and family. Since a typical dove shoot can accommodate quite a number of hunters, camaraderie is a big part of it."

State and federal scientists cooperatively band and annually assess the dove harvest and its effect on the overall populations.

In addition to the daily bag is the Eurasian collared dove, an exotic species, much larger than a mourning dove. In fact, the intruder appears more the size of a pigeon.

"Eurasian collared doves are easily recognized from mourning doves," Gardner said. "They are much larger and usually are found around structures, such as out buildings. There is no limit on collared doves and they do not count as part of the daily limit on mourning doves."

In fact, there are so many Eurasian collared doves that Imperial County, for the first time, allows year-around hunting for them. Gardner said the DFW will monitor this pilot program and might expand it if successful.

To take part in the dove shoot hunters must have a valid 2013-14 hunting license and an upland game bird stamp, as well as participate in a harvest survey. Retailers are gearing up for the rush.

The DFW is accepting reservations for docent-led bird viewing tours from October through February at Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, west of Interstate 5. The focus is on popular species such as sandhill cranes, snow geese and tundra swans.

"Our tours are timed in late afternoon and early evening to take advantage of the sandhill crane fly-ins and roosting tundra swans," said David Moore, a DFW interpreter.

There are plenty of birds. Last October, the average daily sandhill crane count was 1,151. In November, as many as 12,757 cranes were observed in a four-day count.

Tundra swans usually are sighted from mid-November through December. The snow goose count generally peaks in January when 6,000 birds use the reserve. Wading birds, shore birds and raptors are consistent inhabitants.

To sign up for a tour or obtain more information, dfg.ca.gov/delta/cranetour/. Self-guided tours to the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve's South Unit are available from sunrise to sunset. Informative panels are on site to help visitors.